I began 2011 at 242 pounds. I was a fairly happy person, and was usually content with life, but I wasnt really living. I turned down opportunities because I let my poor health and body image hold me back. Life was happening, and I was only a part-time participant. At the beginning of the year in 2011, I decided to get serious.

Two years have now passed and I have lost 79 pounds. There have been stops and restarts, but no reversals and I never quit. My healthy habits are now well ...

I began 2011 at 242 pounds. I was a fairly happy person, and was usually content with life, but I wasnt really living. I turned down opportunities because I let my poor health and body image hold me back. Life was happening, and I was only a part-time participant. At the beginning of the year in 2011, I decided to get serious.

Two years have now passed and I have lost 79 pounds. There have been stops and restarts, but no reversals and I never quit. My healthy habits are now well established and I continue to tweak those habits to make them better. I have not reached my goal yet, but I do not despair. I relish the better life I have created for myself. I am living life full time now, instead of hiding on the sidelines.

I believe that good health is not just about eating right and exercising, one most also learn about who they are, what they want and life and why. I have always loved the advice from Polonius to his son Laertes in "Hamlet" and it applies to this undertaking wonderfully: "This above all: to thine own self be true".

My Goals:
Fitness Goals: - Go 1 Month with walking/running at least a mile a day - Go 2 Months with walking/running at least a mile a day - Go 3 Months with walking/running at least a mile a day - Train for 5K - Run my first 5K - Go 1 Month with doing Strength Training 3 times a week - Go 2 Months with doing Strength Training 3 times a week - Go 3 Months with doing Strength Training 3 times a week - Be able to do the entire Spark People Cardio DVD (especially the Boot Camp) - Get to the point where I genuinely like exercising

Weight Goals: I started calculating % goals after I had already lost some weight, so it is off by about 6 pounds.

on your 79 - pounds weight-loss! I am so PROUD of you! Keep being the WINNER that you are in all that you do! You are an INSPIRATION to us all! Sending you WOOHOO hugs from my sparkpage to yours. Have a WOOHOO weekend!

Hi Emily! I just wanted to stop by and see how things were going for you? You are OH so close to goal! That must be an amazing feeling! You deserve a pat on the back for your dedication to health!

Take time this weekend to do something for YOU, maybe a long, luxurious bath, paint your toenails, buy new undies (always makes me feel good - ha) or even go see a movie (sans the buttered popcorn - buy the snocaps and share them 1/2 box 180 calories :)

Thanks for stopping by my page. You sound so muuch like me! Except my dd is now 13 and wants to get rid of all the thins I want to hold on to. She has no no memory of all the "baby momentos" I have tried to hang on to. And the gadgets that nobody uses... Wow! I haven't even gotten there.